Topic: Archos Gmini 120

[timP]

I have taped with it twice so far.
1- Mon day I let it go for 3hr 22 min...fine
2-Wed I did 2 files (sets) 1 was 1hr 44 min, 2nd was 1hr 27 min...
both times I was on the last bar on the batt meter, but I have a real simple PDA battery backup that is the size of the unit and gives it another 8hrs+

[Nick in Edinboro]

Can you post a link for this battery Spread?  What are you feeding it? 5v?

[timP]

I bought it awhile ago, so will dig around a bit...

feeding it 5v..
I found a few different options..some have only 3 batteries, and will only power the machine, not charge.
The 4 batt one I have will recharge yr unit as well as run it.............

[greenone]

Any indication in the manual how user-replaceable or proprietary the internal battery is?

[JasonSobel]

I recorded in 44.1.... looking on the manual to see where I can change it to 48

going analog in, I haven't found where to set the sample rate either.  but I do know that it will lock onto a 48kHz signal from my V3, and it will play the file back correctly.  

because you're going analog in, you don't really have to worry about a bit-accurate recording.  but your tests will be much more revealing about the quality of the internal A/D conversions.

after I do some bit accuracy tests, I'll be doing some battery tests as well.  see how long it records until the internal battery dies.  but I'd also be very interested to hear more about your 5V PDA battery.  I did a test on the output of the AC adaptor, and I found that it was 5.15 VDC.  so with that output, I don't want to feed my 6V SLA battery to it, I'm afraid I might fry it.

can you post a link to some more detailed battery info?

[Nick in Edinboro]

This one is beefy 8800mah @ 5V, and $119



This looks neat. "contains Li-Ion Cells that provide 3.5 Amp/Hour at 5 Volt"  Sorry for the large size but neat to see battery meter and voltage adjustment thing.  There's also a deluxe version for $109 that is 6300mah  

[timP]

still digging for the one I bought for 35 bucks..
i saw something real similar at Shaper Image while Xmas shopping....
will find the box this eve and post the info.....

[Rick]

Nice! the one on the bottom is only $59 and comes with

Car Adaptor
Wall Plug
A coiled cable
four conectors
and Leather Pouch

3.5 Amp/Hour at 5 Volts (Is that good?)

[dklein]

This one is beefy 8800mah @ 5V, and $119

    hmmmm....5 volts, 8800 mAh you say ....that thing could power a JB3 recording in wave format for 13 hours.  Very interesting power option...

[Nick in Edinboro]

This one runs for ~$48 and has a 1800NiMH and a 1400LiIon.

It's curious because it is a 6V and to use it with 5v cameras they sell you a "Step Down cable".  You can buy replacement step down cables for $7.90each.. I wonder if just buying the "step down cable" and hacking it we could build something for the 3600mah Air soft NiMH I already own

[JasonSobel]

ok, I just couldn't wait until after my pottery class, so I decided to run a quick test.  20 minutes.  my rig set up in my room, recording "Remain in Light" from my stereo.

mics -> V3 -> gmini 120 via RCA S/PDIF
and V3 -> Waveterminal 2496 via AES output to a 110ohm to 75ohm impedance converter recording into Cool Edit 2000.

again, this was a very preliminary test, but, unfortunately, the results are a bit less than satisfying.  I didn't even bother to invert and mix (or use EAC compare .wav feature), because there were several visible spikes and glitches in the Gmini recording.

I trimmed both files, so both are exactly the same length...
I've uploaded screen shots (and I've never posted a picture here, so hopefully this will work)...

edit: I should note that the spikes in the computer recording are me snapping in front of the mics, or closing the door as I leave the room, or something of that nature.  however, the gmini recording shows many more spikes on top of the ones that should be there.

the first one is the computer recording:




this next one is the gmini recording.



hopefully it will be clear that there were some definite issues with the gmini recording.  again, this was just the first preliminary test, and I'll continue to test it some more, but the first test doesn't make me too  happy

I'm headed out now, so if any of you comment, I won't check it until at least 10 (eastern) oclock...

[JasonSobel]

and here's one more image, this one is a close-up of one of the glitches in the gmini recording

[Nick in Edinboro]

[Rick]

Well that stinks

[Sharky]

Jason,

for shits and giggles, can you do the same comparison, but this time record in the 120's highest mp3 setting? I wonder if it has something to do with the wav format that is causing the spikes. The unit may be better at handling mp3 compression than wav's.

Sharky